Exhibitor



Dec. 13, 1927.

S. FLOWERS EXHIBITOR Filed June 11. 1926 yg-shut 2 Inventor 5255/120622 Fazff',

/Ittorney @y 7 QM @162m Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

`STEPHEN FLOWERS, OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. Y

EXHIBITOR.

Application illed June 11,

This invention relates to exhibiting devices and aims to provide means for exhibiting a pair of pictures and this in such a unique manner as to attract the attention of passersby when the device is displayed within a window of a shop for advertising purposes.

The invention further aims to. provide means whereby one picture is gradually removed from view while the other picture is simultaneously gradually brought into view and this in such a manner as to mystify the witnesses and thus holding their-attention for a considerable length of time in order that the Wares of the merchant, when the devceis employed as an advertising medium Will be advantageously brought to the attention of. the witnesses.

lIt is a further object of the invention to provide an exhibitor of the aforementioned character that is extremely simple in construction, inexpensive of installation and operation and of such construction as to not readily become out of order.

With the foregoing and other objects in View as the nature of the invention is better understood the same comprises the novel form, combination and arrangement of Iparts Yhereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the various views:

Figure 1 is a detail vertical section of an exhibitor constructed in accordance with the present invention. l

Flgure 2 is a reduced rear elevation, the back wall of the casing being removed.

Figure 3 is a greatly reduced front elevation of the exhibitor, one of the pictures being fully displayed.

Figure 4 is a similar view disclosing both of the pictures partially displayed.

' Figure 5 is a still further view disclosing the other picture fully displayed.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 6-6 of Figure 2 and looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows, the structural elements in this ligure being on a slightly larger scale than said structural elements in Figure 2, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 7-7 1926. Serial No. 115,812.

of Figure 2 also looking downwardly in l the direction of the arrows.

Now having particular reference to the drawings my novel exhibitor constitutes the provision of a casing 5 of any desirable material and being preferably of rectangular shape, the front wall of which is formed centrally with a square or rectangular shaped opening 6 through which the pictures are to be viewed. Arranged within the casing 5 at the front side thereof is a vertically slidable boxing or carriage 7 `that extends horizontally within the casing, the ends of which extend considerably beyond the opposite vertical sides of the opening in the front Wall thereof, the front wall 8 of this boxing or carriage being formed with a longitudinal n slot 9 in the center thereof. Mounted horizontally within the boxing or carriage 7 is apair of superposed spring Y rollers 10,-10 of such a construction and ing direction. Secured to these rollers 10- Y l() are the inner ends of Vpicture strips which are iexible and vare designated 11u11, that are extended from the rollers through the lslot 9 in the front wall 8 of the boxing after which the are extended in reverse direction within t e casing 5 directly back of the front Wall thereof, the same being anchored at their outer end to theV upper and lower ends of the casing as clearly disclosed in Figure l.

The boxing or carriage 7 further constitutes the provision of a cross bar 12 that extends horizontally in spaced relation with the front wall 8 at the point of egress of said picture strips 11-11 for hiding from view the space between the picture strips as the same project through the slot 9 in said boxing front Wall 8.

The pictures upon the outer sides of the strips 11-11 are of a size as to be fully viewed through the opening 6 in the lexhibitor casing 5 and obviously as the boxing or carriare7 is moved in reverse direction, one of te picture strips will be unwound from its complementary roller l0 while the other picture Vstrip will be automatically wound upon its roller due to the fact that said rollers are mounted for normal winding p movement. This action will cause the pic- For purposes of illustration only, I have disclosed in the drawing a means whereby the boxing will be automatically moved in reverse directions within the casing for accomplishing the aforementioned result, but

it is not desired that I be limited to such.v

drums for keying the same to the shafts in order that they will rotate therewith. Attached to one of the'drums is one end of a flat cable 18 that extends upwardly and is in turn attached at its opposite end to the bottom side of the spring roller boxing 7. Attached tothe other drum 15 is a similar latfcable 19 that extends upwardly in back boxing while the cable 19 will let off from its complementary pulley, and vice versa.

To facilitate vthe automatic movement of the clutch collar 17 between the drums 15- 15 there is attached to said collar: a vertically directed bell crank 23, the horizontal arm of which is guided through a stationary bearing 24 and that is attached at itsouter end by slidable connection to a vertical arm 25 secured to the adjacent end of a transverse shaft 26 journaled within bearings 27 upon the bottom wall of the exhibitor casing 5. This shaft 26 is equipped with a laterally extending-arm 28 that is pivoted at its outer' end'to the lower end of a vertical rod 29 that extends upwardly within the casing to a point slightly beneath the top thereof, theV upper end of therod being guided through a supporting bracket 30 depending from the top wall of the casing as clearly disclosed in Figures 1 and 2. `This rod 29 is formed adjacent its opposite endswith laterally inwardly extending lingers 31-31 that will be engaged by brackets 32-32 upon the top and bottom walls of the spring roller boxing` 7 at the inner-end thereof, itV being obvious that as the boxing moves upwardly, the upper finger 31 will be struck for raising the rod and consequently sol actuating the bell Vcrank 23 as to disen'gage the clutch collar 17 from the drum 15 of the cable 19 and .move the same into Vengagement with the Vother drum-of the'cable 18, and vice versa.

It will thus be seen that- I have provided a highly novel, simple, and efiicient form of vexhibitor that is well adapted for all the purposes heretofore designated and even though I have? herein shown and described an exhibitor of a. construction as to be employed for advertising purposes'when displayed ln shop windows, it is nevertheless Vto be understood that it is within the spirit thereof, a member adapted for vertical slidable movement within thecasing, a pair of picture strips arranged withinl the casing directly behind the front wall thereof, the

inner opposedy ends of the vpicture strips bei' ing secured to said member, theother ends of the picture strips being secured to the top and bottom of the casing respectively, said picture strips being reviewable through the opening in the casing, means for actuatingthe vertically movable member whereby one of the picture -strips is-brought into view throughthe opening in the front wall of the casing simultaneously with the moving of the other strip out of view, an additional means ,for automatically reversing the operation ofthe picture strips, said last mentioned means comprising a clutch control mechanism associated with the Vactuating means, a vertical rod operatively connected with said clutch control mechanism, fingers projecting laterally from said vrod adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, and trips carried by the vertically movable member adapted to engage said laterally extending fingers to effect the actuation of said clutch control mechanism.

2. In a clutch control mechanism of the class described,`a vertically movable carriage, a drive shaft, a pair' of belt actuating drums loosely mounted on the shaft, belts secured to the carriage, and adapted to be wound around the respective drums, a clutch collar splined on said shaftv and adapted to engage with either of the drums for locking the same on the shaft, a verticallymovable rod, an operative connection between the lower end of the rod and said clutch collar whereby the latter may be moved into engagement with either of the drums, fingers projecting laterally from the rod adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, and trips carried by the vertically movable carriage and adapted to be engaged in said laterally extending lingers to effect the actuation of the rod and simultaneously control the operation of the clutch collar. l

3. In a clutch control mechanism of the class described, a vertically movable carriage, a drive shaft, a pair of belt actuating drums loosely mounted on the shaft, belts secured to the carriage, and adapted to be wound around the respective drums, a clutch collar splined on said shaft and adapted tol engage with either of the drums for locking the saine on the shaft, a vertically movable rod, an operative connection between the lower end of the rod and said clutch collar whereby the latter may be moved into engagement with either of the drums, fingers projecting late-rally from the rod adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, and trips carried by the vertically movable carria e and adapted to be engaged in saidV lateral y extending fingers to effect the actuation of the rod and simultaneously control the operation of the clutch collar, said aforementioned operative connection comprising an angular lever secured at the lower end of the vertical portion thereof to the clutch collar, a bearing through which the horizontal p0rtion of said lever is slidable, a vertical arm pivoted at its lower end, a pin and slot connection between the upper end of said arm and the free end of the horizontal portion of said angular lever, and a laterally extending arm connected to the lower end of the vertical rod and with the aforemen ioned arm. In'testimony whereof I affix my signature.

, STEPHEN FLOWERS. 

